diff --git a/src/gui/src/CommandProcess.cpp b/src/gui/src/CommandProcess.cpp
index c85e847b..57397ae7 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/CommandProcess.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/src/CommandProcess.cpp
@@ -30,34 +30,35 @@ CommandProcess::CommandProcess(QString cmd, QStringList arguments, QString input
 QString CommandProcess::run()
 {
     QProcess process;
+    QString standardOutput, standardError;
     process.setReadChannel(QProcess::StandardOutput);
     process.start(m_Command, m_Arguments);
     bool success = process.waitForStarted();
 
-    QString output, error;
     if (success)
     {
         if (!m_Input.isEmpty()) {
-            process.write(m_Input.toStdString().c_str());
+            process.write(m_Input.toLocal8Bit());
         }
 
         if (process.waitForFinished()) {
-            output = process.readAllStandardOutput().trimmed();
-            error = process.readAllStandardError().trimmed();
+            standardOutput = QString::fromLocal8Bit(process.readAllStandardOutput().trimmed());
+            standardError = QString::fromLocal8Bit(process.readAllStandardError().trimmed());
         }
     }
 
     int code = process.exitCode();
-    if (!error.isEmpty() || !success || code != 0)
+    if (!standardError.isEmpty() || !success || code != 0)
     {
         throw std::runtime_error(
-            QString("Code: %1\nError: %2")
-                .arg(process.exitCode())
-                .arg(error.isEmpty() ? "Unknown" : error)
-                .toStdString());
+            std::string(
+                QString("Code: %1\nError: %2")
+                    .arg(process.exitCode())
+                    .arg(standardError.isEmpty() ? "Unknown" : standardError)
+                .toLocal8Bit().constData()));
     }
 
     emit finished();
 
-    return output;
+    return standardOutput;
 }
diff --git a/src/gui/src/Fingerprint.cpp b/src/gui/src/Fingerprint.cpp
index 24c8a1a3..b07c7692 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/Fingerprint.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/src/Fingerprint.cpp
@@ -16,8 +16,7 @@
  */
 
 #include "Fingerprint.h"
-
-#include "common/DataDirectories.h"
+#include "QUtility.h"
 
 #include <QDir>
 #include <QTextStream>
@@ -125,10 +124,8 @@ void Fingerprint::persistDirectory()
 
 QString Fingerprint::directoryPath()
 {
-    auto profileDir = QString::fromStdString(DataDirectories::profile());
-
     return QString("%1/%2")
-      .arg(profileDir)
+      .arg(profilePath())
       .arg(kDirName);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/gui/src/IpcClient.cpp b/src/gui/src/IpcClient.cpp
index 1b0e147a..b8b1bcb1 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/IpcClient.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/src/IpcClient.cpp
@@ -104,14 +104,12 @@ void IpcClient::sendCommand(const QString& command, ElevateMode const elevate)
 
     stream.writeRawData(kIpcMsgCommand, 4);
 
-    std::string stdStringCommand = command.toStdString();
-    const char* charCommand = stdStringCommand.c_str();
-    int length = (int)strlen(charCommand);
+    QByteArray utf8Command = command.toUtf8();
 
     char lenBuf[4];
-    intToBytes(length, lenBuf, 4);
+    intToBytes(utf8Command.size(), lenBuf, 4);
     stream.writeRawData(lenBuf, 4);
-    stream.writeRawData(charCommand, length);
+    stream.writeRawData(utf8Command.constData(), utf8Command.size());
 
     char elevateBuf[1];
     // Refer to enum ElevateMode documentation for why this flag is mapped this way
diff --git a/src/gui/src/MainWindow.cpp b/src/gui/src/MainWindow.cpp
index 9ca104bb..ebda1e24 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/MainWindow.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/src/MainWindow.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 #include "ProcessorArch.h"
 #include "SslCertificate.h"
 #include "ShutdownCh.h"
-#include "common/DataDirectories.h"
 
 #include <QtCore>
 #include <QtGui>
@@ -526,7 +525,7 @@ void MainWindow::startBarrier()
     // launched the process (e.g. when launched with elevation). setting the
     // profile dir on launch ensures it uses the same profile dir is used
     // no matter how its relaunched.
-    args << "--profile-dir" << QString::fromStdString("\"" + DataDirectories::profile() + "\"");
+    args << "--profile-dir" << QString("\"%1\"").arg(profilePath());
 #endif
 
     if ((barrierType() == barrierClient && !clientArgs(args, app))
diff --git a/src/gui/src/QUtility.cpp b/src/gui/src/QUtility.cpp
index 7757adfe..fd42a649 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/QUtility.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/src/QUtility.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 #include "ProcessorArch.h"
 #include "CommandProcess.h"
+#include "common/DataDirectories.h"
 
 #if defined(Q_OS_LINUX)
 #include <QProcess>
@@ -113,3 +114,11 @@ QString getOSInformation()
 
     return result;
 }
+
+QString profilePath()
+{
+    // Get path to current profile directory, properly converted
+    // from an OS locale std::string to Unicode QString.
+    auto localePath = DataDirectories::profile();
+    return QString::fromLocal8Bit(localePath.c_str(), localePath.size());
+}
diff --git a/src/gui/src/QUtility.h b/src/gui/src/QUtility.h
index 62a60825..7c05fd00 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/QUtility.h
+++ b/src/gui/src/QUtility.h
@@ -29,3 +29,4 @@ QString hash(const QString& string);
 QString getFirstMacAddress();
 qProcessorArch getProcessorArch();
 QString getOSInformation();
+QString profilePath();
diff --git a/src/gui/src/SslCertificate.cpp b/src/gui/src/SslCertificate.cpp
index 08863ae6..de3eea67 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/SslCertificate.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/src/SslCertificate.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 #include "SslCertificate.h"
 #include "Fingerprint.h"
-#include "common/DataDirectories.h"
+#include "QUtility.h"
 
 #include <QProcess>
 #include <QDir>
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@ static const char kConfigFile[] = "barrier.conf";
 SslCertificate::SslCertificate(QObject *parent) :
     QObject(parent)
 {
-    m_ProfileDir = DataDirectories::profile();
-    if (m_ProfileDir.empty()) {
+    m_ProfileDir = profilePath();
+    if (m_ProfileDir.isEmpty()) {
         emit error(tr("Failed to get profile directory."));
     }
 }
 
-std::pair<bool, std::string> SslCertificate::runTool(const QStringList& args)
+std::pair<bool, QString> SslCertificate::runTool(const QStringList& args)
 {
     QString program;
 #if defined(Q_OS_WIN)
@@ -68,17 +68,15 @@ std::pair<bool, std::string> SslCertificate::runTool(const QStringList& args)
 #endif
 
     QProcess process;
+    QString standardOutput, standardError;
     process.setEnvironment(environment);
     process.start(program, args);
-
     bool success = process.waitForStarted();
-    std::string output;
 
-    QString standardError;
     if (success && process.waitForFinished())
     {
-        output = process.readAllStandardOutput().trimmed().toStdString();
-        standardError = process.readAllStandardError().trimmed();
+        standardOutput = QString::fromLocal8Bit(process.readAllStandardOutput().trimmed());
+        standardError = QString::fromLocal8Bit(process.readAllStandardError().trimmed());
     }
 
     int code = process.exitCode();
@@ -89,15 +87,15 @@ std::pair<bool, std::string> SslCertificate::runTool(const QStringList& args)
                 .arg(program)
                 .arg(process.exitCode())
                 .arg(standardError.isEmpty() ? "Unknown" : standardError));
-        return {false, output};
+        return {false, standardOutput};
     }
 
-    return {true, output};
+    return {true, standardOutput};
 }
 
 void SslCertificate::generateCertificate()
 {
-    auto filename = QString::fromStdString(getCertificatePath());
+    auto filename = getCertificatePath();
 
     QFile file(filename);
     if (!file.exists() || !isCertificateValid(filename)) {
@@ -122,7 +120,7 @@ void SslCertificate::generateCertificate()
         arguments.append("-newkey");
         arguments.append("rsa:2048");
 
-        QDir sslDir(QString::fromStdString(getCertificateDirectory()));
+        QDir sslDir(getCertificateDirectory());
         if (!sslDir.exists()) {
             sslDir.mkpath(".");
         }
@@ -159,20 +157,17 @@ void SslCertificate::generateFingerprint(const QString& certificateFilename)
 
     auto ret = runTool(arguments);
     bool success = ret.first;
-    std::string output = ret.second;
-
     if (!success) {
         return;
     }
 
     // find the fingerprint from the tool output
-    auto i = output.find_first_of('=');
-    if (i != std::string::npos) {
-        i++;
-        auto fingerprint = output.substr(
-            i, output.size() - i);
+    QString fingerprint = ret.second;
+    auto i = fingerprint.indexOf('=');
+    if (i != -1) {
+        fingerprint.remove(0, i+1);
 
-        Fingerprint::local().trust(QString::fromStdString(fingerprint), false);
+        Fingerprint::local().trust(fingerprint, false);
         emit info(tr("SSL fingerprint generated."));
     }
     else {
@@ -180,14 +175,14 @@ void SslCertificate::generateFingerprint(const QString& certificateFilename)
     }
 }
 
-std::string SslCertificate::getCertificatePath()
+QString SslCertificate::getCertificatePath()
 {
-    return getCertificateDirectory() + QDir::separator().toLatin1() + kCertificateFilename;
+    return getCertificateDirectory() + QDir::separator() + kCertificateFilename;
 }
 
-std::string SslCertificate::getCertificateDirectory()
+QString SslCertificate::getCertificateDirectory()
 {
-    return m_ProfileDir + QDir::separator().toLatin1() + kSslDir;
+    return m_ProfileDir + QDir::separator() + kSslDir;
 }
 
 bool SslCertificate::isCertificateValid(const QString& path)
@@ -198,7 +193,7 @@ bool SslCertificate::isCertificateValid(const QString& path)
 
     BIO* bio = BIO_new(BIO_s_file());
 
-    auto ret = BIO_read_filename(bio, path.toStdString().c_str());
+    auto ret = BIO_read_filename(bio, path.toLocal8Bit().constData());
     if (!ret) {
         emit info(tr("Could not read from default certificate file."));
         BIO_free_all(bio);
diff --git a/src/gui/src/SslCertificate.h b/src/gui/src/SslCertificate.h
index b29a6b16..3ff3ff5c 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/SslCertificate.h
+++ b/src/gui/src/SslCertificate.h
@@ -36,13 +36,13 @@ signals:
     void generateFinished();
 
 private:
-    std::pair<bool, std::string> runTool(const QStringList& args);
+    std::pair<bool, QString> runTool(const QStringList& args);
     void generateFingerprint(const QString& certificateFilename);
 
-    std::string getCertificatePath();
-    std::string getCertificateDirectory();
+    QString getCertificatePath();
+    QString getCertificateDirectory();
 
     bool isCertificateValid(const QString& path);
 private:
-    std::string m_ProfileDir;
+    QString m_ProfileDir;
 };
diff --git a/src/lib/barrier/win32/DaemonApp.cpp b/src/lib/barrier/win32/DaemonApp.cpp
index 88e6b4ef..f8cf591a 100644
--- a/src/lib/barrier/win32/DaemonApp.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/barrier/win32/DaemonApp.cpp
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 #include "base/log_outputters.h"
 #include "base/Log.h"
 #include "common/DataDirectories.h"
+#include "base/Unicode.h"
 
 #include "arch/win32/ArchMiscWindows.h"
 #include "arch/win32/XArchWindows.h"
@@ -257,7 +258,7 @@ DaemonApp::handleIpcMessage(const Event& e, void*)
     switch (m->type()) {
         case kIpcCommand: {
             IpcCommandMessage* cm = static_cast<IpcCommandMessage*>(m);
-            String command = cm->command();
+            String command = Unicode::UTF8ToText(cm->command());
 
             // if empty quotes, clear.
             if (command == "\"\"") {
diff --git a/src/lib/common/win32/DataDirectories.cpp b/src/lib/common/win32/DataDirectories.cpp
index 15cb64e1..3e86c59b 100644
--- a/src/lib/common/win32/DataDirectories.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/common/win32/DataDirectories.cpp
@@ -16,34 +16,12 @@
 */
 
 #include "../DataDirectories.h"
-
-#include <Shlobj.h>
-
-std::string unicode_to_mb(const WCHAR* utfStr)
-{
-    int utfLength = lstrlenW(utfStr);
-    int mbLength = WideCharToMultiByte(CP_UTF8, 0, utfStr, utfLength, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL);
-    std::string mbStr(mbLength, 0);
-    WideCharToMultiByte(CP_UTF8, 0, utfStr, utfLength, &mbStr[0], mbLength, NULL, NULL);
-    return mbStr;
-}
-
-std::string known_folder_path(const KNOWNFOLDERID& id)
-{
-    std::string path;
-    WCHAR* buffer;
-    HRESULT result = SHGetKnownFolderPath(id, 0, NULL, &buffer);
-    if (result == S_OK) {
-        path = unicode_to_mb(buffer);
-        CoTaskMemFree(buffer);
-    }
-    return path;
-}
+#include "KnownFolderPaths.h"
 
 const std::string& DataDirectories::profile()
 {
     if (_profile.empty())
-        _profile = known_folder_path(FOLDERID_LocalAppData) + "\\Barrier";
+        _profile = localAppDataPath() + "\\Barrier";
     return _profile;
 }
 const std::string& DataDirectories::profile(const std::string& path)
@@ -55,7 +33,7 @@ const std::string& DataDirectories::profile(const std::string& path)
 const std::string& DataDirectories::global()
 {
     if (_global.empty())
-        _global = known_folder_path(FOLDERID_ProgramData) + "\\Barrier";
+        _global = programDataPath() + "\\Barrier";
     return _global;
 }
 const std::string& DataDirectories::global(const std::string& path)
diff --git a/src/lib/common/win32/KnownFolderPaths.cpp b/src/lib/common/win32/KnownFolderPaths.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..23ccc84a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/common/win32/KnownFolderPaths.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+/*
+* barrier -- mouse and keyboard sharing utility
+* Copyright (C) 2018 Debauchee Open Source Group
+*
+* This package is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+* modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+* found in the file LICENSE that should have accompanied this file.
+*
+* This package is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+* but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+* MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+* GNU General Public License for more details.
+*
+* You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+* along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*/
+
+#include "KnownFolderPaths.h"
+
+#define WIN32_LEAN_AND_MEAN
+#include <Windows.h>
+#include <Shlobj.h>
+
+static std::string wide_to_mb(const wchar_t* source, int length)
+{
+    int ansiLength = WideCharToMultiByte(CP_ACP, 0, source, length, NULL, 0, NULL, NULL);
+    if (ansiLength > 0) {
+        std::string ansiString(ansiLength, 0);
+        ansiLength = WideCharToMultiByte(CP_ACP, 0, source, length, &ansiString[0], ansiLength, NULL, NULL);
+        if (ansiLength > 0) {
+            return ansiString;
+        }
+    }
+    return {};
+}
+
+static std::string known_folder_path(const KNOWNFOLDERID& id)
+{
+    std::string path;
+    WCHAR* buffer;
+    HRESULT result = SHGetKnownFolderPath(id, 0, NULL, &buffer);
+    if (result == S_OK) {
+        auto length = lstrlenW(buffer);
+        path = wide_to_mb(buffer, length);
+        CoTaskMemFree(buffer);
+    }
+    return path;
+}
+
+std::string desktopPath()
+{
+    return known_folder_path(FOLDERID_Desktop);
+}
+
+std::string localAppDataPath()
+{
+    return known_folder_path(FOLDERID_LocalAppData);
+}
+
+std::string programDataPath()
+{
+    return known_folder_path(FOLDERID_ProgramData);
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/common/win32/KnownFolderPaths.h b/src/lib/common/win32/KnownFolderPaths.h
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..81b650ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lib/common/win32/KnownFolderPaths.h
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/*
+* barrier -- mouse and keyboard sharing utility
+* Copyright (C) 2018 Debauchee Open Source Group
+*
+* This package is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+* modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+* found in the file LICENSE that should have accompanied this file.
+*
+* This package is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+* but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+* MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+* GNU General Public License for more details.
+*
+* You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+* along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*/
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <string>
+
+std::string desktopPath();
+std::string localAppDataPath();
+std::string programDataPath();
diff --git a/src/lib/ipc/IpcLogOutputter.cpp b/src/lib/ipc/IpcLogOutputter.cpp
index 223f52f7..c895dc12 100644
--- a/src/lib/ipc/IpcLogOutputter.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/ipc/IpcLogOutputter.cpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "base/EventQueue.h"
 #include "base/TMethodEventJob.h"
 #include "base/TMethodJob.h"
+#include "base/Unicode.h"
 
 enum EIpcLogOutputter {
     kBufferMaxSize = 1000,
@@ -196,7 +197,7 @@ IpcLogOutputter::sendBuffer()
         return;
     }
 
-    IpcLogLineMessage message(getChunk(kMaxSendLines));
+    IpcLogLineMessage message(Unicode::textToUTF8(getChunk(kMaxSendLines)));
     m_sending = true;
     m_ipcServer.send(message, kIpcClientGui);
     m_sending = false;
diff --git a/src/lib/platform/MSWindowsScreen.cpp b/src/lib/platform/MSWindowsScreen.cpp
index fd494c98..352368ac 100644
--- a/src/lib/platform/MSWindowsScreen.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/platform/MSWindowsScreen.cpp
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@
 #include "base/IEventQueue.h"
 #include "base/TMethodEventJob.h"
 #include "base/TMethodJob.h"
+#include "common/win32/KnownFolderPaths.h"
 
 #include <string.h>
-#include <Shlobj.h>
 #include <comutil.h>
 #include <algorithm>
 
@@ -1916,14 +1916,12 @@ const std::string&
 MSWindowsScreen::getDropTarget() const
 {
     if (m_dropTargetPath.empty()) {
-        // SHGetFolderPath is deprecated in vista, but use it for xp support.
-        char desktopPath[MAX_PATH];
-        if (SUCCEEDED(SHGetFolderPath(NULL, CSIDL_DESKTOP, NULL, 0, desktopPath))) {
-            m_dropTargetPath = std::string(desktopPath);
-            LOG((CLOG_INFO "using desktop for drop target: %s", m_dropTargetPath.c_str()));
+        m_dropTargetPath = desktopPath();
+        if (!m_dropTargetPath.empty()) {
+            LOG((CLOG_DEBUG "using desktop for drop target: %s", m_dropTargetPath.c_str()));
         }
         else {
-            LOG((CLOG_ERR "failed to get desktop path, no drop target available, error=%d", GetLastError()));
+            LOG((CLOG_ERR "failed to get desktop path, no drop target available"));
         }
     }
     return m_dropTargetPath;